Black Friday is typically known to be a hectic shopping season for many shoppers due to the discounted prices that would make product items more affordable for a limited time only. Times have changed since then, and the shopping stores have become mostly quiet and inactive.

“As retailers reopened their U.S. stores after the American Thanksgiving holiday, some locations found small clusters of early Black Friday shoppers waiting outside stores for exclusive merchandise, such as Taylor Swift’s new $39.99 Eras Tour book sold only at Target stores.” As stated by Reuters. “But several East Coast big-box store locations and shopping malls were relatively quiet before 9 a.m. Eastern on Black Friday.”

The 58-year-old chef from New Jersey, Hoss Moss, was able to notice the difference when he was outside a Target store trying to buy a Taylor Swift item for his teenage daughter. “Black Friday is just not what it used to be,” he stated. “Grocery prices are expensive and … even clothing is not at a price you would get before.”

Due to this issue, Walmart has recently started offering multiple deals on items such as TVs, vacuum cleaners, toys, clothes, and air fryers. The pre-sale for Black Friday began on Monday, November 11th.

Retailers realize that what adds pressure to them are inflation-fatigued shoppers who are willing to spend their money if they are offered good price deals. This has caused many stores to lower prices to help attract consumers.

“Target cut prices by $100 on products such as a 75-inch Westinghouse TV and Nintendo Switch gaming console, and took more than 50% off Barbie dolls, Keurig coffee machines, and KitchenAid mixers, deals which started on Thanksgiving and run through Saturday,” Reuters stated.